Horse-releaser.



PATBNTBD AUG. 13, 1907. G. E. PETTERSON. HORSE RELEASER. APPLIGATION FILED APR,17.1907.

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QKReZZe PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

G. E. PETTE-RSON. HORSE RELEASBR. APPLICATION nun APR.17.1907.

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No. 863,437. PATENTED AUG. 13', 1907.- G. Bk PETTBRSON.

HORSE RELEASER.

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GUSTAF E. PETTERSON, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

HORSE-RELEASER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 17,1907. Serial No. 368,686.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAF E. PETTERSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson, State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse- Releasers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to horse releasers and more particularly to that class which is embodied in a novel construction of hammer strap.

In carrying out my invention I employ a hammer strap which comprises a rigid section and a movable section which is hinged to the rigid section and is adapted to be forced to open position through the instrumentality of a spring carried by the rigid section. A latch is employed for normally holding the movable section in proper relation with respect to the fixed section to pivotally support a draft element therebetween and this latch is movable to permit of the movable section being swung to release the said draft element.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the movable member raised to release the draft element, Fig. 4 is a front elevation, Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view therethrough and through the draft element, Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the fixed member of the hammer strap, Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view of the central portion of the draft element, and, Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the said portion. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing another portion of'the fixed member of the hammer strap.

As shown in the drawings the hammer strap comprises a fixed member which is in the form of a plate 10 having at its rear end an upstanding pintle lug 11 and adjacent its rear end at each side thereof an upstanding lug 12 the purpose of which will be presently explained. The movable member of the hammer strap is indicated in general by the numeral 13 and is hinged as at 14 to the pintle member 11 and extends forwardly and above the plate 10 of the fixed member it being understood that this plate is to be secured to the cross bar of the shafts of the vehicle in connection with which the hammer strap is to be used.

Upon the upper face of the plate 10 there is formed an annular bearing shoulder 15 and concentrically with respect to this shoulder a stud 16 and the movable member 13 is also provided with a stud 17 similar in form to the stud 16 and which overlies the latter. In other words the studs are opposed.

The numeral 18 denotes a draft element which may be in the form of a swingletree or a doubletree and 19 a plate which is secured upon the under side of the said draft element and is provided with a socket 20 encircling which is an annular bearing shoulder 21. This socket 20 is designed for the reception of the stud 16 upon the plate 10 and the annular bearing shoulder 21 upon the plate 19 is in this manner located between the stud 16 and the annular bearing shoulder 15 formed upon the plate 10. A plate 22 is secured upon the upper face of the draft element and is provided with a socket 23 in which is normally received the stud 17 upon the movable member 13 of the hammer strap.

From the foregoing it will be observed that when the fixed and movable members of the hammer strap are in adjusted position, the studs 16 and 17 will serve to hold the draft element between the said movable and fixed members and to pivot the same in this position. The said fixed and movable members are held in such relation under normal conditions by means of a latch 24 which extends through a slot 25 formed in the plate 10 rearwardly of the annular shoulder 15 thereon and is provided at its lower end with a cylindrical head 26 which seats in a recess 27 formed in the under side of the said plate 10. The upper end of the latch24 extends through a slot 28 formed in the movable member 13 of the hammer strap rearwardly of the stud 17 and the said upper end of the latch is shouldered as indicated at 29 for engagement with the upper face of the said movable member it being understood'that the slot 28 is of such length that the latch may be moved rearwardly so as to disengage from the movable member and permit swinging of the same. This swinging of the movable member is had through the instrumentality of a leaf spring 30 which is secured as at 31 upon the pintle lug 11 of the fixed member of the hammer strap and is bent to extend upwardly along the under face of the movable member 13 and is bent at its lower end as at 32 to extend upwardly against the rear edge of the latch 24. As heretofore stated this latch is normally held in engagement with the movable member by means of this spring and in order that the latch may be disengaged as also heretofore stated, I have provided a link 33 which is pivotally connected at its forward ends with the latch and encircles the pintle lug upon the fixed member and to this link is connected a strap or cable 34 which may be pulled to produce the result stated and to permit of the draft element being released. The function of the lugs 12 is to limit the swinging movement of the draft element as will be readily understood.

What is claimed is- A hammer strap of the class described comprising a fixed section and a movable section hinged to the fixed section, the movable section being designed to normally overlie the fixed section, studs formed integral with the upper face of the fixed section and the under face of the movable section, said studs being in opposition, a draft element having sockets for the reception of said studs whereby the draft element will be pivotally held between the sections, a latch carried by the fixed section and enwhereby the same may be disengaged by the movable sec- 10 gnged with the movable section to normally hold the same tion.

against movement, a spring secured to the fixed section In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence and having its upper portion bent to extend along the of two witnesses. under face of the movable section whereby a tendency will be exerted upon the latter toward movement, the lower portion of the spring being bent to extend along the rear Witnesses:

edge of the latch to hold the same in engagement with HENRY ROBERTS, the movable section, and means connected with the latch J. A. WHITE.

GUSTAF E. PETTERSON. 

